Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Rachel'sFlock]

Quote:
Oh my goodness, Penelope is sooo cute. She looks like she has perfect eyebrows.

slurrywidow, that is exactly what I thought! Nice job on the eye-makeup!

I have finally (it seems like finally, tho she is about 48 hours old) gotten to kiss her little fuzzy head.
My world is complete.

Fortunately, her Mum was kind enough not to peck my eyes out, as I fully expected. She has become really calm about our unnatural interference, and that is a real blessing.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Rachel'sFlock :

Quote:

Right there, with ya!

It's scary, isn't it???? (And mine are now coming on 5 weeks and U-G-L-Y but yet I still

love them madly. It's truly sad.

)

They are never, ever ugly, at any stage. They are perfect and age-appropriate.

I've got one I'll have to post a picture of. He really DOES give U-G-L-Y a run for its money!!

Now my frizzle - that tiny critter has been the picture of loveliness from the beginning.

 

[Chicken Chat]

Quote:
can you make a ramp for them to use till big enough to get up the steps?

I was thinking along the same lines. Don't want the baby getting left behind. will have to break out the saw tonight.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
yes I do.

few long awaited pics. 1st "Mama" and "Black Broody" both raising their 2nd broods of the year. "Mama" is the 2nd from the back, and how CUTE is the little blue girl behind her??? These girls re 5 to 6 weeks old. I forget

. 2 mm's and 10 babies! Yes they KNOW who's are who's!

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/chickens/IMGP1333-1.jpg

new fuzzy butts! This is the best pic this mama would allow me. She was born in March, and is now raising her 1st brood. She is walking these little ones EVERYHWERE today!

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/chickens/IMGP1330-1.jpg

Testoserone alley! The only boys mising from this shot are Sammy (Head roo) Xman (2nd in charge) and Bubba. Note mama and the brand new babies in the corner of the pic. My boys are good boys!

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/chickens/IMGP1329-1.jpg

I love them blues... never get tired of looking at them and those chicks are so cute. stony do you think their through for this year?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Rachel'sFlock :

Day 2
AliceAnn and Penelope
(Primrose is not ready for her close-up, yet, Mr DeMille)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/58241_chooks_day_2_free_ranging_029.jpg

I am so much in love, it's not even right...

I am in love, Penelope is adorable, and her makeup is inpeckable, haha. what a cutie. Kiss her for me too

 

[stonykill]

Rachel'sFlock :

Quote:
look bove this post for pics!

Were all the eggs set at once? And have you candled? Your mm will probably only sit 24 more hours before she gets up to take care of her little ones. If she doesn't then I might intervene. But I'm sure she will know she has to take care of her little ones. My 1st time broody that just hatched left 3 eggs in the nest. She was born in march, but knows what to do! Nobody knows how to be chicken, better than a chicken

Yes, all the eggs were set at once. Yes, I have candled a few of the eggs near her front end, and while they are entirely dark and have an obvious air sac in one end, I don't see movement or hear any peeping. There is also no evidence of any attempts to peck their way out of the shells.

I will leave the lot of them just as they are and see what happens between now and tomorrow.
Is it common for them to hatch out at such different times over a period of 3 days, despite being set at the same time? The first 2 came within 4 hours of one another, and since then, nothing.

I am astounded by her knowledge of such an intricate process with zero experience. Nature is amazing!
Thanks again for the info.​

I have had it happen several times that the eggs hatch over 3 days. If she doesn't get off of them by midday tomorrow I would take them from her.

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
look bove this post for pics!

Were all the eggs set at once? And have you candled? Your mm will probably only sit 24 more hours before she gets up to take care of her little ones. If she doesn't then I might intervene. But I'm sure she will know she has to take care of her little ones. My 1st time broody that just hatched left 3 eggs in the nest. She was born in march, but knows what to do! Nobody knows how to be chicken, better than a chicken

Dang, stony! That's a load of Sumatras!! I didn't know they came in blue. Cool!!

Rachel, I don't have anywhere near stony's experience but I had to pull the unhatched eggs out from under my girl (2 year old red sex link - defies explanation - FABULOUS broody mama) after 3 days. I think she would have sat on them forever. The 2 eggs I pulled were duds. She wasn't happy when I pulled them but she was up and about the business of mothering very shortly thereafter.

load of Sumatra's. lol, that's not even 1/2 of them

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
yes I do.

few long awaited pics. 1st "Mama" and "Black Broody" both raising their 2nd broods of the year. "Mama" is the 2nd from the back, and how CUTE is the little blue girl behind her??? These girls re 5 to 6 weeks old. I forget

. 2 mm's and 10 babies! Yes they KNOW who's are who's!

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/chickens/IMGP1333-1.jpg

new fuzzy butts! This is the best pic this mama would allow me. She was born in March, and is now raising her 1st brood. She is walking these little ones EVERYHWERE today!

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/chickens/IMGP1330-1.jpg

Testoserone alley! The only boys mising from this shot are Sammy (Head roo) Xman (2nd in charge) and Bubba. Note mama and the brand new babies in the corner of the pic. My boys are good boys!

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/chickens/IMGP1329-1.jpg

I love them blues... never get tired of looking at them and those chicks are so cute. stony do you think their through for this year?

thanks! The blues are very pretty. Mama is just stunning, and her smallest blue. Too cute. It's really hard to say if they are done. "Mama" went broody mid October last year. Hence her name.....

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

Ok, I was pretty sure I was gonna have a heart attack when I saw this...

Penelope, Primrose, Mum and DAD all out enjoying a scratch and some nice oats in the run...

Sooooo...do I remove the remaining unhatched eggs, now? Or do I wait til tomorrow, or 72 hours from first chick hatching? She has been off the eggs for about half an hour, as of right now. They are not cool, but no longer warm to the touch. It is about 75 degrees today.

I still cannot believe she has them outside already!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Rachel'sFlock :

Ok, I was pretty sure I was gonna have a heart attack when I saw this...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/58241_chicks_day_out_016.jpg

Penelope, Primrose, Mum and DAD all out enjoying a scratch and some nice oats in the run...

Sooooo...do I remove the remaining unhatched eggs, now? Or do I wait til tomorrow, or 72 hours from first chick hatching? She has been off the eggs for about half an hour, as of right now. They are not cool, but no longer warm to the touch. It is about 75 degrees today.

I still cannot believe she has them outside already!!!

Just my 2 cents but i think she may be done, what a sweet family.​